Eternal Melody

"I can see why the director felt unsatisfied with Hori Fuuko."

"Eh?"

"While she does have some talent, a program like this doesn't suit her image. Moreover, there seem to be bad rumors regarding her seducing other guys—your a safer choice since-" Hino looked away awkwardly, but Sumire understood.

"Because I was devoted to my boyfriend."

"Everybody knew how you were looking after Tsueno in the hospital, even delaying your debut for a few extra months. So at the very least, people can vouch that you're loyal."

"But I'm dating Yuhi now. I know many people disapprove and think it is too soon."

"Do you think the same?" Hino asked.

"I wonder." Sumire trailed off. "Initially, I hesitated about dating Yuhi. From the moment we met again, it would be hard for me to avoid his advances.

"Did it surprise you that he still liked you this entire time?"

"It did. A year or so had gone by, so I thought by now there would be somebody else."

'But at the same time, I understood since I was always watching him on TV and listening to his music.'

"He wrote so many love songs for me the past year. Do you truly think I wouldn't notice that he still liked me?"

"But you still came to Tokyo?"

"Because I wanted to see Yuhi. In this place with him, I could create new memories."

In this place, Ru is not here; she wouldn't have any guilty feelings. "It was wrong of me to think I could erase Tsueno Mamoru from my heart and run back to Yuhi like nothing happened."

Even though she wanted to remain faithful to Yuhi, 'One day, I will be the one to confess.' Even if he turns her down, she won't stop loving him. When Yuhi confessed to her, it wasn't the time. She was happy, but she knew she couldn't take his hand.

When Ru asked her out and said, he would help her forget. For some reason, she accepted his hand. It didn't take long before she fell in love with him. It was hard for her to accept that for a while.

'I'm supposed to be in love with Yuhi.

I am only dating Ru to ease the pain of his absence.'

But, no matter how many times she tried to convince herself, it did no good. She already fell for Ru then, and she desperately tried to bury her feelings for Yuhi away.

'I thought I did a good job at it, but Ru saw right through me.' He suggested after her concert to find Yuhi.

The words he said then remain engraved in her heart.

'Time is up, Ki. I won't last much longer. The reason I asked you out was more for my sake. I wanted you by my side during the very last day. But I can tell your feelings for Yuhi will overflow and explode. Please go and meet him and sort things out.'

That person was so stupid. To think he did something so stupid. If he was going to hand her over to Yuhi anyway, they shouldn't have dated. If they didn't date and just remained friends, she wouldn't have fallen in love with him.

What is wrong with staying by his side to the last day as a friend? Did they have to date?

"You know, even with masks on, it's undeniable who some of these people are."

Sumire followed Hino's gaze, and her face color turned pale. "Wait, that red hair-"

"Oh, his mask fell off!"

"Kyaaah! It's Atsuro-sama."

Her eyes twitched, annoyed when the audience confirmed who it was. What on earth is this guy doing here? She thought he was too silent recently.

"That one came here for you."

But if Atsuro is here, her gaze falls on the group members in the background. Sumire spotted blue hair. 'It's Shin, thank goodness.'

"So, is that the one you prefer?"

Sumire rolled her eyes. "That's not it; I just haven't heard from him in a while."

He made that abrupt phone call when he was in the middle of a job. What was the purpose of it?

"Still, it's amazing how persistent your harem is."

"Quit it. I only have my dear."

"Sano likes you; then there is Nakara Shin, Kusaji Atsuro, me, and Eli like you too."

"You're so bold to include yourself in that count."

"There is no need to hide it anymore."

Indeed there isn't. "How has your brother been recently?" Sumire wanted to shift the topic quickly.

Hino sighed. "Since that time, I do see him more. But he keeps asking about you. I think we can include that kid into the count, but maybe after a few years."

Sumire stepped on his foot. "Quit it, you know, even if other guys like me, I have my hands full with my dearest. I'm still thinking of ways to speed up our marriage."

"You're the one acting shamelessly here. At least finish high school first!"

"I know! But it's tough to control myself around Yuhi. Look how handsome he is. I want to pounce on him every day."

Hino flicked her forehead. "Quit it; you're attracting too much attention."

At that comment, Sumire noticed people staring at them. But that didn't matter to her.

"You are such a boring man Hino. You should take pointers from Yuhi; he likes how shameless I am."

"If I took pointers from Yuhi, you would be with me and not him since I would do it better."

She had never gotten embarrassed around Hino, even when she learned of his feelings. But those words made her cheeks color.

Hino patted her head. "See? I told you to have self-restraint."

"Right."

This person already decided that Yuhi was the most important. Even though he has feelings for her, he won't do anything. Sumire felt reassured with this fact, and that was why she could still speak comfortably with him like this.

"But you know I think you're right. One of the reasons I became your manager was because I wanted to spend more time with you."

'Oh wait, what?' Sumire looked at him dumbfounded, and she stepped away. A cautious look appeared on her face.

"Don't look at me like that."

"I thought you said Yuhi was the most important-"

"He is."

"Then surely you shouldn't make a move on his woman."

"As I said, if I were serious about making a move, you would already be mine."

This person is so confident; where does he get that from? Sumire sighed. "Alright, I get it; indeed, we don't talk much unless it's to do with Yuhi."

She stopped going over to his place too. Before, she would drop by often when she was bored. But after she started dating Yuhi, it felt wrong to do that.

"Right? At least let me get closer to you like this."

So that's what he meant. Sumire wondered how Hino truly felt about this. It must be difficult for him to watch the girl he likes with another man. Moreover, that other man is somebody he treats as family.